This month so far has been an interesting mix of emotions.
Before arriving here, I would think of this country as a place where I would get to share the Good News to lots of people in villages, watch amazing things happen, see the Father move in many ways. As it turns out, my team has been in the city most of the time and we get to help with special needs children. So the way I envisioned this month, and the way it actually is unfolding reminds me how much I should never think I know what God has next for me.
The first week of being here, our team would do projects for the four homes where the children stayed. We cleaned closets, washed walls, hung string lights for a fun sensory room, scrubbed tables and chairs, cleaned some of the play equipment, built shelves for a closet, sprayed a thousand roaches to their death, interacted with the children occasionally, and made exercise videos designed specifically for these kids.
The second week, we headed to another town where they had three more homes. We were assigned the task of getting updates on the children for their website. The best thing about being there, I think, were the times we got to help feed the children. It could be very frustrating at times since we couldn’t understand a word of what they said, or always know how to calm them down. But we got to know a few of their names and I loved how excited they got when we came to help feed them dinner. And they definitely knew how to smile their way into my heart!
Another favorite of living there was our rooms on the roof. Since there wasn’t enough space for all of us in the rooms, I set up my tent! Waking up to a cool foggy morning was rather a novelty.
I struggle a lot with knowing what to say when people ask how I liked India. It’s a beautiful country. The food is good. The people are so hospitable and friendly. It’s an adventure to go ANYWHERE because the roads are crazy. The weather is perfect right now. It’s colorful and amazing.
But I don’t really like it here. I don’t want to lie and tell people I love it here so much, when in reality I’ve lived in other countries that I’ve liked better. Or that I like it here because of how colorful everything is and how beautiful and welcoming the people are. I really couldn’t tell you exactly WHY I don’t like it; I just don’t.
I enjoyed India; I’m glad I only need to stay a month. And that’s the simple truth.
